Clutch mechanism



Dec. 18, 1928,

I ,695,355 w. 1. WHEEL 7 CLUTCH- MECHANISM Original Filed J 2' 923 2 Sheet -s 1 2 J 37 s I; j 6 2/ T I F 5% 53 M if 3 Dec. 18, 1928.

w. 1. WHEELER CLUTCH MECHANISM Original Filed 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NIL/heelr Gama;

Patented' Dec. 18, 1928.

ATEFTYF ISIAH wrmnnna, or soor rvrnnn, ILLINOIS.

(moron Mncnnmsm,

Original a plication filed 'Januar 2, 1923, Serial no. 610,249. Divided and this application filed I 1 November 21, 1925. Serial No. 70,590. a

This invention relates to certain improvements in clutch mechanisms and it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this kind which is centrifugally operated,

5 Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which comprises two relatively'rotatable members together with means operable under influence of centrifugal force for bringing into action a clutching means and furthermore to provide means for regulating the action of said clutching means.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved 5 clutch mechanism whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be.the better understood, I will now proceed to, describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in side elevation illustrating a clutch mechanism constructed in ac cordance with an embodiment of my invention; i

Figure 2 is a viewin end elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2; v m Figure iis a view similar-to Figure 2 showing certain of the parts in a second position Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5"of Figure 1; Fi re 6 is a sectional view taken substantially onthe line 6'6 of Figure '1.

As' disclosed in the accompanying drawings,"D denotcs a-drive shaft of the motor supported-in a conventional manner withinahou sing or casingA,"the inserted end por- "43 tion of {said shaft being operatively engaged with an inserted endiportioniof" the driven "shaft S, said ShaftsS and D" being in longimdinal'alignment. l l Loosely mounted upon and surrounding the i" shaft S is-an elongatedsleeve 1 and mounted upon surrounding a portion ofjtlie sleeve 1 is theihub 2arranged at'the axial center of the pjlate3, said" plate 3' constituting an end wall e f-the housing 4:. Associated with the housing 4 is a second end plate 'orhead said carriage being supported by the housing 4 for sliding movement in a direction longitudinally of the shafts D and S. The inner or inserted end of the sleeve '1 is provided with a gear 11 preferably of a greater radius than the gear 7. The gear 11 is in mesh with the gears 12 when thecarriages IO are in one position, said gears 12 being each fixed to a shaft 9. By this means the shaft D is operatively engaged with the sleeve 1 and in a manner whereby the sleeve l may be rotated with a speed less than the speed of the shaft D. The various gears just referred to may be of any desired ratio so that the ratio of speed between the driving shaftD and the sleeve 1 may be as preferred. Each of the carriages 10 is also. provided with a relatively broad gear 14 constantly in mesh with a gear 8. But, when the carrlages 10 are sufficiently moved in a direction inwardly of the shaft S or the sleeve 1,.the gears- 12 disengage from the gear 11 and the gears 14 are brought into meshwith the gear 11 resulting in a reverse rotation of the sleeve 1. 'When this reversing of the direction of rotation of the sleeve 1 is-required, a suitable braking means generally indicated at C is employed to positively hold the housing 1 agalnst rotation. This; mechanism. C- "may 5 be any type preferred and is adapted to'be manually operated. from, a point exteriorl'y of the housing or casing An].

The head or'plate5 is providedwitha hub 15. ,The hub is provided in its periphery 'at diametrically opposed points with the sockets 16 from which extend ithe'links 17. The incentric to the disc or Each of the links 17 is pivotally connected to the adjacent end portions of a friction band orbrake section 20 and, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 5, it is to be noted that each of the friction band or brake sections is pivotally connected inwardly of the adjacent end of the second band or brake section and that there is sufficient space between the band or brake sections to permitthe same to rock. The links 17 operate as toggle links so that when the hub 15 together with the housing 4 is rotated in one direction the band or brake sections 20 will be expanded and when rotated in the opposite direction said band or brake sections will be contracted. When the sections 20 are expanded they frictionally engage the annular flange 21 arranged within the casing or housing A and carried by the wall thereof, said flange 21 eing concentric to the hub 15. By this means the housing 4is free to rotate in one direction with the shafts D and S but is locked against rotation when said shafts are rotated in a reverse direction. I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this exact means for locking the housing 4 against rotation in one direction as other means may be employed with equal advantage.

22 denotes 'an actuating mechanism for the carriages 10 and which mechanism may be operated in any desired manner. I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to limit my present embodiment of my invention to the particular arrangement of gears herein disclosed as any conventional mechanism may be substituted therefor.

The sleeve 1 extends beyond the adjacent plate or head 3 of'the housing 4 and keyed or otherwise fixed to the extended portion of said sleeve 1 is a disc or plate 23 provided at diametrically opposed points with the outstanding shafts 24. These shafts 24 extend through arcuate slots 25 of predetermined length, provided in the plate or disc 26 keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft S. v

Pivotally engaged with each of the shafts 24 is a link 27 also pivotally connected, asat 28, to a second link '29, said link 29 being pivotallyengaged, as at 30, to the plate 26. Disposed through the plate 26 in relatively close proximity to and outwardly of an extremity of each of the slots 25 is a plug or bushing 31, through which is directed the shank or bolt 32 provided at its inner end portion with the left hand threads 33, said threaded portion being directed through a plug or bushing 34-operatively engaged with the annular member 35 surrounding and con plate 23. Interposed between the annular member 35 and the marginal portion of the plate 26 andarranged outwardly of the bolts or shanks 32 is an annular member 36 arranged within and carried by the outstanding flan e 37 fixed to the adjacent end portion of the ousing 4.

Fixed to the outer end portion of each of the bolts or shanks 32 is a head 38 providedwith an inwardly directed arcuate arm or bill 39 which operatively engages the adjacent shaft 24 upon swinging or rocking movement of the head 38 in one direction to effect movement of the shaft 24 along the slot 25.

The head 38 is also provided with an elongated rod 40 011 which is slidably mounted a weighted member 41. Associated with the member 41 is an expansible member 42 for automatically urging the weighted member 41 inwardly of the rod 40. As herein disclosed, the member 42 comprises a coil spring encircling the rod 40 interposed between the weighted member 41 and a stop member or nut 43threaded upon the outer extremity of the rod 40.

When the drive shaft D is inactive, the rods 40 and the shafts 24 with their associated parts assume the position illustrated in Fig ure 4 of the accompanying drawings, due to the resistance offered by the shafts 24 in contact with the curved arms or bills 39 and in which position the plate 26 and the annular member 35 are free of the interposed member 36. With the gears 12 meshing with the gear 11, the housing 4, upon rotation of the shaft D is held against rotation by the brake sec- 'tions 20, whereupon the sleeve 1 together with the plate 23 is caused to rotate. As the plate 23 rotates the shafts 24 engage or confact with similar ends of the slots 25 comprised in the plate 26 as illustrated in Figure 4, and also contact with the arcuate arms or bills 39, whereby the shaft S is rotated. With the various parts in the positions shown in Figure 4 this essential rotation of the sleeve 1 and the disc 26 also results in the shafts 24 exerting a pressure against the curved arms or bills 39 and thereby increasing the resistance or leverage in opposition to the outward movement of the. rods 40 under the action of centrifugal force and thereby effectively preventing the plate 26 and member 35 engaging the member 36 while the shaft S is pulling at a reductionor at a speed lower than direct drive. This condition is maintained until the centrifugal force causes the rods 40 to swing outwardly and pull upon the links 27 and 29 up to a position slightly out of alignment as illustrated in Figure 2; This movement results in sufficient rotation of the bolts or shanks 32 to cause engagement between the plate 26 and the members/35 and 36 and which action is easily accomplished by accelcrating the motor suflicient to generate the required momentum and then releasing the acceleration to allow the stress or strain between the gears 7 and 11 to equalize, resultin in the rods 40 taking position under centri ugal force as illustrated in liigure ,2, and

-which limited movement is assured by the stopmembers pr lugs 44 carried by the peripheral portion of the p1 to 26. Under these conditions the shaft S will be rotating as a unit with the shaft D or direct.

When the rods 40 are in their outer position as illustrated in Figure 2, it is to be noted that the shafts 24 offer a shorter lev erage' or less resistance to the arms or bills 39, thus affording a variable resistance to the tripping or moving of the links 27 and 29 so that upon reduction of speed of the shaft S the plate 26 and the members 35 and 36 will correspondingly disengage and thereby allow the gears to drive the plate 26 and the shaft S at a corresponding lesser speed. The extent of straightening movement of each pair of links 27 and 29 is controlled by a screw i7 threaded through an outstanding lug 48 carried by the plate 26 and with which the inner end portion of one of the links, as 27, contacts. The screw 47 is ada ted to be adjusted to regulate the extent of straightening movement of the links in order to eifect the different tripping or releasing positions as the requirements of practice may prefer.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a clutch mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a plurality of relatively rotatable members, one of said members being provided with a slot, a shaft carried by a second member and disposed 'through the slot of the first member, an articulated rod operatively connecting the shaft to the first named member, a head rovided with a bill engageable with the sha means associated with the head for rocking the same in one direction under centrifugal force, another member supported for rotation independently of the first named rotatable membersand including a part extending between said first named rotatable member and a third of said relatively rotatable members, and means operating upon such rocking movement of the head to bring the first and third of said rotatable members and the part of the last member extending therebetween into clutching engagement.

2. In combination with a plurality of relatively rotatable members, one of said members being provided with a slot, a shaft carried by a second member and disposed through the slot of the first member, an articulated rod operatively connecting the shaft to the first named member, a head provided with a bill engageable with the shaft, means associated with the head for rocking the same in one direction under centrifugal force, another member supported for rotation independently of the first named rotatable members and including a part extending between said first named rotatable member and a third of said relatively rotatable members, means operating upon such rocking movement of the head to bring the first and third of said rotatable members and the part of the last member extending therebetween into clutching engagement, and means coacting with the articulated rod to limit thg extent of straightening movement of said ro v 3. In combination with a plurality of relatively rotatable members, one of said members being provided with a slot, a shaft carried by a second member and disposed through the slot of the first member, an articulated rod operatively connecting: the shaft to the first named member, a head provided with a bill engageable with the shaft, means associated with the head for rocking the same in one direction under centrifugal force, another member supported for rotation independently of the first named rotatable members and including a part extending between said first namedrotatable member and a third of said relatively rotatable members, means operating upon such rocking movement of the head to bring the first and third of said rotatable members and the part of the last member extending therebetween into clutching engagement, an outber, an ascrew threaded through the lug and coacting with the articulated rod to limit thf1 extent of straightening movement of said ro In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM ISIAH WHEELER.

.standin lug carried by the first named mem- 

